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Overview

The Maxwells and the Popes are two families whose lives are interwoven like the threads of a beautiful, yet ultimately delicate, tapestry: the women were college roommates, their husbands are parners in the same law firm, their kids have grown up next door to each other, and they share both vacations and holidays.

But when their idyllic lives are unexpectedly shattered by a moment that can never be erased or forgotten, their faith in each other - and in themselves - is put to the supreme test. Their story is one that strikes a chord in all of us, embracing as it does the universal passions that life has to offer...a story only Barbara Delinsky could tell.

Product Details

About the Author

Barbara Delinsky has written many bestselling novels over the past two decades, including Looking for Peyton Place, The Summer I Dared, Flirting with Pete, An Accidental Woman, The Woman Next Door, The Vineyard, Lake News, Coast Road, Three Wishes, A Woman's Place, and For My Daughters. She is also the author of a nonfiction book, Uplift: Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors, available from Washington Square Press. Published in twenty-five languages worldwide, her books regularly appear on the bestseller lists of The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Publishers Weekly. Delinsky is a lifelong New Englander who loves communicating with her readers. She can be reached at P.O. Box 812894, Wellesley, MA 02482-0026, or visit her website: www.barbaradelinsky.com.

Jennifer Wiltsie's films includes Wendigo, Uninvited and The Fever with Vanessa Redgrave. She has guest-starred on HBO's The Sopranos and Masterpiece Theatre's Clarissa. On Broadway she has performed with Matthew Broderick in Night Must Fall, and her off-Broadway credits include Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. In London's West-End, she starred in Alan Ayckbourn's revival of Absurd Person Singular.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter One

Flipping the last page of the decision he had been reading, Sam Pope rose from his chair took a deep, satisfied breath, and let it out in a sigh of intense pleasure. He twitched his mustache en route to a smile. The smile broadened. He straightened his shoulders, felt his chest fill with excitement. Unable to contain himself, he growled an exuberant, "Way to go, Sam," and strode out the door.

"We did it, Joy," he said without breaking stride.

His secretary's eyes lit. "That explains the media." Even as she held out pink slips for the phone calls Sam had refused to take while he was reading the decision, her phone buzzed again.

But Sam was off, heading down the hall. There was a spring in his step. He felt on top of the world. He passed office after office but didn't slow until he reached the one at the very end. He wanted J.D. to be the first of his partners to hear the news. John David Maxwell was his oldest and closest friend.

The office was empty.

"He's at Continental Life in Springfield for the day," his secretary called from her station.

Samfelt a moment's disappointment, but it was gone in a flash. He was too elated to be weighed down for long. "When he calls in, tell him we won Dann v. Hanover."

The secretary grinned. "He'll be thrilled. What a victory."

"Yeah," Sam said, and tossed his chin toward yet another corridor. At its far end was a large corner office with generous views of the State House, the Boston Common, and the Public Garden. It was the office of the founderof the firm, the senior Maxwell. "Is John Stewart around?"

"He's in New York for board meetings. But he'll be impressed."

As he should be, Sam thought. Twelve years before, John Stewart hadn't wanted a litigation department in the firm. If money was the bottom line, as J.S. seemed to think, this justified it. No one could sneeze at a contingency fee of a cool six million.

Striding back down the hall, he knew he looked smug, but he didn't care. He stopped at the office two short doors from his own and rapped a hand on the jamb.

Vicki Cornell was the associate who, over four years' time, had worked most closely with him taking Dunn v. Hanover from the Superior Court to the Appellate Court to the Supreme Judicial Court. One look at Sam's face and she grew wide-eyed. "Yes?"

He grinned and nodded.

She let out a whoop. It had barely left her mouth when she was on her feet and at the door, extending a hand in congratulations. Sam threw political correctness to the winds and gave her a hug.

She didn't seem to mind. Stepping back, she looked as excited about the victory as he was. "We did it. Wow! Have you seen a copy of the decision?"

He nodded. "It's on my desk."

"Does Marilyn Dunn know?"

"And the others. They're coming in at three for a press conference. Do me a favor and call Sybil Howard? Channel Five has given us good coverage along the way. I want Sybil to have first dibs on questions. And call Locke-Ober's. Let's book a private room." He turned to leave. "Have your husband join us. And Tom and Alex, and the significant others we kept them from while they were working on this case." On his way out the door he said, "We've earned a celebration. It isn't every day that precedent-setting cases are won." To Joy, in passing, he said, "See you in a couple of hours."

"Where will you be?"

"At home. Or at the college. Wherever I find my wife." He had no intention of telling Annie the news on the phone. Not the way he was feeling. Winning Dunn v. Hanover was a coup. He had to see her face to face, had to hold her. No celebration would be complete without that.

Constance-on-the-Rise lay eighteen miles northwest of Boston. It was an intimate, affluent community nity whose luxury imports normally made the commute to the city in forty minutes. Sam did it in ten better than that. Granted, it was eleven in the morning, rather than the rush hour. But he breezed road repair crews without braking once. He, was on a roll.

All his life he had dreamed of doing something important, scoring points for the little guy, making a difference. As an assistant district attorney he had prosecuted some heavy murder and drug cases, but none could hold a candle to Dunn v. Hanover.

Annie knew that. Annie understood.

He was really on a roll, because it just so happened that Tuesday was her work-at-home day. She would be all alone  no offspring, no friends. She would be reading journals, or correcting papers, or dictating reports  until she heard his news. Then she would be beside herself with excitement. She always was when there was good news to share.

He recalled other good news times. When his law school acceptance had come in the mail, he had scoured the library, finally finding her in a remote carrel, squirreling her into a nearby storage room, and making love to her with his back to the door. On the evening he'd won his law school moot court competition, they had done it in his car. When he'd learned he had passed the bar, they had run to the inn adjacent to the college where Anniewas taking graduate courses. Their room had been harming, all two hours' worth. Nine months later Jonathan had been born.

He drove with a smile on his face and an ache in his groin, both of which burgeoned when he pulled up the circular drive to the front door of the brick Tudor. Flushed with anticipation, he swung out of the car, strode up the short path, and threw open the door.

"Annie? Good news, sunshine!"

He took the steps two at a time to the second floor, then her third-floor office. This time of day the sun would be spilling through the skylights and across her desk. He had visions of making love there.

"Annie?"

She wasn't in her office, though her briefcase was open and the desk covered with papers. He searched the second floor, then the first, calling her name repeatedly. When he checked the garage, he saw that her car was gone.

Editorial Reviews

The Popes and the Maxwells, known as the ``Popewells,'' are more than next-door neighbors: Annie Pope and Teke Maxwell were college roommates; John David Maxwell is Sam Pope's oldest friend, and both men are full partners at the Boston law firm run by J. D.'s father. But in a matter of moments, the two families are torn apart by tragedy. Sam and Teke are spotted in an act of spontaneous (and unprecedented) lovemaking by 13-year-old Michael Maxwell, who dashes out of the house and runs into a passing pickup truck. The accident leaves the boy in a coma. Making things even more hideous for Teke is the fact that the pickup truck was driven by Grady Piper, her childhood sweetheart. J. D. copes by trying to get somebody sued or arrested, preferably Grady. When Sam's indiscretion comes to light, Annie can hardly bear to be around him. As the days drag on and Michael remains unconscious, it becomes apparent that the Popewell relationships are also badly injured and not all will survive. By focusing on these characters and their responses to adversity, Delinsky ( The Passions of Chelsea Kane ) skillfully turns a somber scenario into intriguing women's fiction. (Apr.)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

What the description doesn't tell you... "the moment that can never be erased or forgotten" is the sexual impulses that can overcome rational minds. You have the two families.. and it starts off from when a husband of one family has a "moment" (trying to keep it PG here) with the wife of his best friend. As scandalous as it is... you'll want to keep reading the novel because its the aftermath of the even that truly matters.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I could not put this book down . I am now on my third book now by this author. This book moved fast.....enjoyed!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I couldn't put this book down!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This book was excellent,because even though is was hard people found it in their hearts to forgive and try to make things work. This was a very good book.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

great reader didn't want to put it down and was sorry that it ended

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More than 1 year ago

Dont find any of the characters sympathetic except Annie, who should have just kicked out her best friend and husband from her life. I hated Teke, and could understand JD's anger. The moral of this story is: anything and everything should be forgiven and people who place their family's welfare in jeopardy need not bear any consequences at all.

harstan

More than 1 year ago

Next door neighbors in the Boston suburb Constance on the Rise, the Popes and the Maxwells have been close friends to each other seemingly forever even sharing a summer place in Maine fittingly dubbed ¿Popewell¿. Annie Pope and Teke Maxwell were college roommates while their future spouses John David ¿J.D.¿ Maxwell and Sam Pope have been best buds since childhood and work as full partners at a Boston law firm whose top gun is the Maxwell patriarch John Stewart. Nothing could rip apart the loving friendships between two generations of Popewells. --- However, nothing until tragedy occurs. Thirteen years old Michael Maxwell is shocked when he sees Teke and Sam making love. Stunned and feeling betrayed, Michael races outside without looking in front of a pickup truck driven by Teke¿s former childhood boyfriend Grady Piper. Michael remains in a coma from the accident while J.D. angrily wants to take out his frustration on everyone involved especially Grady. That is until the infidelity surfaces leading the Popewells to war with one another while Michael lingers in a comatose state. --- The key that keeps this fine family drama from becoming a melodramatic emoting soap opera is the reactions of the key cast members to the tragedy as each in a restrained way feel as if they caused the accident. Thus the ensemble Popewells and Grady seem genuine while coping poorly with what happened to the youngest. Barbara Delinsky is at her best with this sobering look at friendship. --- Harriet Klausner

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